The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me-Chapter 466: Side Story - The Battle Royale (11)

“Uhm, hmm hmm…”

“…”

We are currently sneaking into the Imperial Palace under the cover of night.

You’re wondering how we dealt with the palace guards and ancient magic?

It was simple.

- Crackle… crackle crackle…

“The a-ancient magic…? That’s amazing…! How did you do it?”

“…Shh.”

With my stellar mana, Roswyn’s solar mana, and Serena’s lunar mana, undoing ancient magic was as easy as pie.

One of the reasons the Imperial Palace did not dare to mistreat the Starlight and Moonlight families was precisely this.

This very reason also gave us the right to not kneel before the Emperor.

Without the supposedly absolute ancient magic, the palace was too easily disabled.

Of course, since the solar mana of the royal family is still needed, the possibility of a rebellion is slim.

But thanks to Roswyn, a branch family member who awakened solar mana for the first time in a thousand years, and the soul bead formed by combining Serena’s and my mana, we were able to do it.

“Roswyn, if it weren’t for you, we never could have done this.”

“…E-eek.”

I gently placed the soul bead containing Serena’s and my mana into my pouch, then whispered to Roswyn, who was curiously looking around the palace while I patted her head.

“Thank you so much.”

“…E-ehehe.”

As I gave her a light kiss on the forehead, she wobbled slightly, letting out a silly laugh.

Has she finally gotten a little more used to affection?

I’ll have to make sure to show her more love from now on.

After all, it’s my responsibility to make her happy again—especially after she became so isolated that she created imaginary friends.

“Uh, um! Look!”

“Hm?”

As I pressed my forehead against hers and smiled, Roswyn suddenly pointed urgently behind me.

“The guards are coming!”

“…Ah.”

I stared at her for a moment, then—

“W-we need to hide…!”

- Smooch…

“…Mmph!”

I quietly kissed her, silencing her.

“…! …!!”

All you need to do is stay quiet.

We were already cloaked by Glare’s invisibility magic, so as long as we remained silent, we were fine.

Her subtle light-casting invisibility had not only helped us successfully evade the heroines’ fierce pursuit earlier, but even Ruby and I couldn’t sense it when it was in full effect.

It’s not something that can be replicated with normal magic.

Glare really is amazing.

“…”

But why am I suddenly feeling a chill behind me?

“W-what?!”

“Mmph!?”

As I turned around a sudden shout came from in front of us.

I snapped my eyes open and turned forward while still holding Roswyn close.

“Who’s there!!”

The guards were running toward us with their eyes blazing.

What the…?

Did they see through the invisibility?

But how?

- Shaaaa…

“…Huh?”

As I held Roswyn tightly and broke into a cold sweat, the guards came right up to us, then started sweating themselves as they nervously looked around.

“Did… did I see wrong…?”

“Geez, a false alarm?”

Clicking their tongues, the guards soon returned to their posts.

“…Hero.”

As I stared at them in bewilderment, Glare suddenly grabbed my pant leg from behind and muttered.

“Let’s go quickly.”

“…Yeah.”

Surely she didn’t do that on purpose… right?

No way.

Our sweet and innocent little Glare wouldn’t do something like that.

.

.

.

.

.

“D-do you think I can really do this?”

“You’ve done well so far. You successfully disabled the ancient magic too.”

Having finally made it to the secret vault beneath the Imperial Palace, I began to reassure a very nervous-looking Roswyn gently.

“You can do it, Roswyn.”

“…”

Still hesitating, Roswyn clenched her fists tightly when I added,

“And when we succeed in this, I’ll definitely keep my promise.”

After hearing that, she struck a determined pose with her fists clenched.

- Shaaaaa…

And soon after—

- Clang…!

The edges of the vault shimmered with a golden glow as the royal secret vault began to slowly open.

“I-I did it!”

“See? I told you that you can do anything.”

“Eh-heh…”

Praising Roswyn as she hopped around in excitement, I stroked her head, and she wiggled happily into my arms.

…So cute.

How could I have pushed this adorable girl to the point where she had to create imaginary friends?

Every time I think about it, my heart aches.

“You’re amazing, Roswyn.”

“H-hehe… really?”

With that, I cautiously linked arms with her, and she leaned on me.

It seemed she regained her confidence due to my praises.

“Well, I guess there’s no choice… Hero, you really do need me!”

“Yep, I do. You’re reliable and amazing.”

“G-great! Then follow me! I’ll lead the way!”

I humored her and played along as she puffed out her chest and marched forward.

“But… uh, where are we going?”

“…Pfft.”

Seeing her mix of newfound confidence and her usual cluelessness made me chuckle.

“…Hero, I could’ve opened that vault too.”

“Sure, sure.”

I patted Glare’s head as she pouted, then followed Roswyn.

“Our little one is really impressive, huh?”

“…”

Seriously, everyone’s so cute.

“Whoa… there’s so much cool stuff in here…”

“…Wow.”

We cautiously stepped inside the vault, where a vast treasure trove lay before us.

“This is incredible…”

Even someone like me, who has no real greed for material wealth, couldn’t help but be dazzled by the sight of such priceless treasures.

It made sense—after all, these treasures had been accumulating for a thousand years.

This place probably contained the most reached in the whole world.

No wonder Clana couldn’t find an item to restore my soul in this place last time—it wasn’t that it didn’t exist, but rather that the collection was just too overwhelming.

“…But how do we even begin to find what we’re looking for?”

If it were up to us, it would take at least six months to find the treasure my ancestor left behind.

“Should I break everything?”

“…No.”

Luckily, I had a method.

“This way.”

My ancestor had left behind ‘stellar mana,’ which I could still faintly sense.

Even though I’d lost most of the stellar mana I had, it was an ability I was practically born with.

Locating its general direction was easy enough.

“Come with me!”

“Take your time. We’ve got plenty of it…”

As Roswyn hurried to catch up, fearful of being left behind, I frowned slightly as I sensed something odd.

“…Interesting.”

If what I suspected is true, then something pretty entertaining might happen.

.

.

.

.

.

A few hours later.

“We found it.”

“T-this is the treasure left behind by the First Hero?”

“Whoa.”

We stood before a chest clearly marked with the Starlight family’s insignia—obviously left behind by my ancestor.

“Now, what could be inside…”

I carefully reached for the chest while the two girls stood behind me, brimming with curiosity.

But just before I opened it…

“Before we check, though…”

I paused, glancing off to the side with a gleam in my eyes.

“I know you’re there, so why don’t you come out already?”

Along with the stellar mana I sensed, there was also a familiar, dark, and slimy energy lingering.

Of the people I know, only one person gives off this kind of eerie vibe.

“I can sense you. Something felt off since earlier…”

“…Hmph.”

Even Roswyn and Glare had noticed by now, so surely the person would reveal themselves soon?

- Rumble…

“Tch, so annoying.”

As I sat on top of the chest, a pile of gold coins next to me collapsed, and—

“You sure are quick to notice.”

A familiar face appeared, just as I expected.

“Long time no see?”

“Frey… you bastard…”

Bound by chains, and looking disheveled—

“You actually managed to crawl in here…”

It was none other than the former Demon God, Eclipse, completely stripped of her former grandeur.

- Step, step…

“Judging by the fact that you’ve lost your Divinity… looks like I was scared for no reason.”

As I stared at her calmly, Eclipse started approaching me, black energy swirling from her bound hands.

“Then again, those Divinity wouldn’t have done much good anyway.”

From the signs of torture on her body and her current behavior, it seems she still doesn’t understand.

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“As long as the great one behind me stands, you will never defeat me.”

She really has no idea that everything is already over, does she?

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…”

Still, she seems to have something up her sleeve.

What should I do?

“If you kneel at my feet right now, I might consider making you my slave.”

“Roswyn, can you bring me that table over there?”

“…Huh?”

“Try to find the hardest one.”

Looks like it’s time for some negotiations.

Shall we set the table?

***

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